making HEADlines: Goose Island and Black Friday

November 21, 2017:Jacksonville, FL: The day after Thanksgiving might mean different things to different people: maybe it's a day off of work, or a day to visit stores along with millions of others, or simply a day to recover and let the effects of the tryptophan continue doing its thing. For many beer enthusiasts, however, Black Friday means beer and beer releases. In particular, there's one beer release series that sends folks across the country into a frenzy each year: the Goose Island Beer Co. (Chicago) Bourbon County Brand Stout. This year, the iconic barrel-aged Imperial Stout includes the original and five variants. The original Bourbon County Brand Stout is aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. In addition, the 2017 variants are: Barleywine, Coffee (made with Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso), Northwoods (blueberry and almond), The Prop (bananas, cassia bark and roasted almonds), and Reserve (aged in 11-year-old Knob Creek barrels).

Locally around the Jacksonville area, Beer:30 San Marco, 1543 San Marco Blvd., will hold its third BCBS Release Day event, beginning around 7am with coffee and doughnuts in the back parking lot. "We always have a great turnout, and people have started lining up as early as 2am in prior years," says Jeff Burns, owner. Attendees at Beer:30 are asked to sign up on a sign-in sheet at the back door upon arrival. This will determine individuals' place in line and allow store staff to assemble orders for requested variants. The store will offer giveaways beginning around 7:30am, along with raffles for Goose Island branded items. Beer:30 will also serve "Sofie-Mosas," made with Goose Island Sofie (Belgian Farmhouse Ale). Doors will open at 9am, and customers will be able to pick up their bottles. Beer:30 will have five of the 2017 BCBS beers available: Original, Barleywine, Coffee, Northwoods, and Reserve. Bottle limits will be determined.

Across town at Really Good Beer Stop, 323 - 10th Ave. North, Jax Beach, Release Day begins at 10am, with Maple Street Biscuits for brunch. The store will have Original BCBS on draft, says co-owner Tim Brack, along with bottles of BCBS Original, Barleywine, Coffee, Northwoods and Reserve. Currently, Really Good Beer Stop is offering a chance to be first in line: purchase a pint of Matilda (Belgian Pale Ale) and be entered in the raffle to claim one of two coveted first spots when the doors open. Raffle winners will be announced on Wednesday. Another local bottle shop where you can expect to find BCBS is Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop, 1035 Park St., in Five Points, which opens at 11am on Friday. Although inventory has not yet been finalized as of this writing, owner Kelly Pickard expects to offer Original BCBS on draft and in bottle, along with Barleywine, Coffee, Northwoods, and Reserve in bottles. Supplies of this year's variants are very limited, Kelly adds. In addition to the local bottle shops above, other sources for BCBS will be Total Wine (Town Center), ABC Stores (around Jax metro), and Broudy's (around Jax metro). Several other specials for Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday around the Jax area:[Ed. Note, 11/22: Check the "Tap This" page for more Black Friday events added around metro Jax.]Wicked Barley Brewing, 4100 Baymeadows, Jax, releases its Black Rye IPA, Friday. The first 50 people to purchase a Crowler can of the Black Rye IPA will receive a free pint glass, while supplies last. Also, a pop-up shop featuring several local retailers will be set up in the beer garden. Wicked Barley hosts its Fall Fest, all day on Wednesday, November 22, featuring new beer releases.Amelia Tavern, 318 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, releases its Sm'kn M'rtha, a robust porter with cherrywood smoked malt on Friday. Southern Swells Brewing, 1312 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, offers a Black Friday sale of its remaining Truth Juice Double IPA four-packs, for $12 Wednesday and Friday. Mellow Mushroom, 410 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, holds Black Out Stout Friday on Black Friday, 8-10pm. The event features several Imperial Stouts, including Aardwolf Brewing's El Mariachi Imperial Stout. Happy Thanksgiving, and get ready for Black Friday!Cheers,Linda Johnson,Certified Cicerone®

FREE KOOZIE! Did someone say beershirt?

On Tap Florida Events: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Holiday Season is Here! And, 2019 Florida Beerfest Season is on the way... Beertrip! BeerFest & Special Beer Events All Around Florida! BeerSPHERE Events Page! Keep on Scrollin'! For events around the Jacksonville area: Check the TAP THIS Calendar page